This is an interesting photo I found. It has a Spitfire, Corsair, Bearcat?, perhaps a P-51 at the back and I can’t tell what the two birds on the right are.
What do you guys think? Pretty neat to see all these different RAF birds in one shot. [:|]
Very cool pic, Brandon, TY for sharing. Interesting to see the massive amount of wing walkway chipping on the real thing.
Wow that is a fantastic photo there Brandon!
I think those two planes on the right (starboard?) of the shot are Royal Navy Fairly Barracuda torpedo/dive bombers.
The plane in front of the F4U Corsair looks like a F4F Martlet (British name for the US Wildcat).
I’m guessing this is a Royal Navy airbase as opposed to RAF???
Yup, that’s what that is. A Barracuda and a Wildcat. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many different planes in one place in a WWII pic.
From one of their flight-testing bases I would assume, considering the variety of machinery in that photo?
Yes, I am gonna say that is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm station and not an RAF base. All of those aircraft are carrier machines, including the Seafire and Sea Hurricane.
The one clear in the back looks to be too narrow in the main gear to be a Mustang
All the planes have weathered paint jobs. Did a carrier just get back from a deployment?
The Martlet is probably the General Motors built FM-2 version of the F4F-4 Wildcat. The wing is to high to be a F6F or F8F.
Cool photo, thanks for sharing.
There is weathering for sure, but keep in mind the photo quality, very grainy - just look at how rough the sky is.
regards,
Jack
Definitely a Wildcat as the gear is fuselage mounted rather than wing mount as on Hellcat and Bearcat.
The plane facing the viewer looks to be a Hurricane.
That Corsair appears to be an early one, Birdcage. And you are correct about the landing gear on the one in the back, its not a mustang for sure and I see the gear on the F4F now, definitely one of those. That one does look like a Hurricane now that you mention it. Hard to tell in that photo. Cool stuff.
It is a well known photograph. IIRC it was taken post war at a MU (maintenance unit). Possibly they were airframes used for teaching.
Pretty sure it’s a Sea Hurricane at the back. I notice the wingtips of the Corsair aren’t clipped. FAA had 8" off each.
Isn’t the 3rd one up a Buffalo?
Great photo!
No, from the bottom up–Spit, Corsair, Martlet/Wildcat. Last one up top is probably the Hurricane with 3 blade prop and you can just about make out the chin intake in the shadow.
Yup, I see it now. the landing gear is wrong for the buffalo.
Definitely a hurricane in back. If you look close at the right wing you can see the tape for the .303 guns
A rare photo indeed of Fleet Air Arms birds.
The FAA received 95 Corsair -1’s. Many, but not all had their wings clipped 8" to clear the upper hangar deck bulkhead on their different carrier classes.